Incidence and distribution of cancers in adolescents and young adults: Single institution experience in Lebanon

Cancers of adolescents and young adults are relatively rare and have specific features that range from the types and locations of these tumors to their specific medical, physical, psychological and social needs. A retrospective descriptive study on cancer patients aged between 15 and 25 years at Hotel Dieu de France, Saint Joseph University Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon from 2007 to 2011 was conducted to study the incidence and distribution of cancers. We identified 205 adolescents and young adults with cancer in Hôtel Dieu de France, Saint Joseph University Hospital in Beirut, from 2007 to 2011, which represent 2.9% of all cancers diagnosed in this hospital. Lymphomas (32%), bone tumors (12%), central nervous system (CNS) tumors (13%), leukemia (9%), thyroid cancers (9%), ovarian (5%) and testicular tumors (3%) accounted for more than 80% of all cancers. Thyroid cancers represented 17% of all female cancers in this patient category compared to 1% in males, while the CNS and bone cancer had a higher incidence in males. Despite the low incidence of cancers in adolescents and young adults, it is essential to obtain more multicentric national and regional comparative data, which can help to elucidate the incidence and distribution of these cancers.